Foam cleaning compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a foam composition for killing dust mites comprising an acaricidal agent, polymer, ether solvent, perfume, surfactant and water.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part application of U.S. Ser. No.08/753,161 filed Nov. 21, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,922.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a foam compositions which are used fortreating textile surfaces of interior furnishings such as carpets,mattresses and chairs for the purpose of killing dust mites.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A major problem existing in households is the presence of house dustmites which release allergens. Dust mites flourish in textile materialssuch as carpets, upholstered chairs and mattresses.

U.S. Pat. No.4,666,940 teaches a textile cleaning composition containingbenzyl benzoate as an acaricidal agent, a surfactant and a polymericmaterial.

European Patent No. 17,315 has disclosed that normal insecticides, suchas pyrethrins or DDT, are relatively ineffective against house dustmites. According to this patent specification, benzyl benzoate isregarded as a suitable active substance, and the aim of that patent isto diminish a disadvantage of this compound, namely the relatively highvapor pressure, in order to achieve longer retention of the substance.For this purpose, combinations of benzyl benzoate with fatty acid estersand a fungicidal agent in a nonaqueous preparation are proposed therein.

According to British Patent No. 1,368,657, teaches the adding ofnonvolatile polyalkylene glycols or nonvolatile ethers or esters tobenzyl benzoate. However, this has caused considerable disadvantages inthe use of the beds, and these are documented in detail in EuropeanPatent No. 17,315. In both literature references, the carrier substancesused are volatile organic solvents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foam composition which is effectivein killing dust mites. The foam cleaning composition contains apolyacrylate polymer, a hydrocarbon propellant, an ether type solvent,an acaricidal agent a surfactant, a hydrotrope, perfume, ananticorrision agent and water, wherein the composition does not containbenzyl benzoate.

An object of the instant composition is to provide a foam compositionwhich is effective in killing dust mites and that the treating foamcomposition be readily removed from the treated surface by postvacuuming.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foam composition for killing dustmites which comprises approximately by weight:

(a) 0.5% to 10%, more preferably 1% to 8% of a polyacrylate polymerhaving a molecular weight of about 100,000 to about 900,000;

(b) 2% to 10%, more preferably 3% to 8% of a hydrocarbon propellantwhich can be a mixture of isobutane and propane;

(c) 0.5% to 5%, more preferably 0.75% to 3% of pentasodium triphosphate;

(d) 0.5% to 3%, more preferably 0.75% to 2% of an ether solvent;

(e) 0.1% to 5%, more preferably 0.5% to 4% of an acaricidal agent;

(f) 0.1% to 5%, more preferably 0.25% to 2% of at least one surfactant;

(g) 0.1% to 3%, more preferably 0.25% to 2% of a hydrotrope;

(h) 0.1% to 1%, more preferably 0.2% to 0.8% of a perfume;

(i) 0.01% to 5%, more preferably 0.02% to 3% of an anticorrosion agent;and

(j) the balance being water, wherein the foam composition does notcontain benzyl benzoate.

The polyacrylate polymer useful in the instant invention has a molecularweight of about 100,000 to about 900,000, more preferably about 400,000to about 700,000. A preferred polymer is Ubatol VTR455 which ismanufactured by Cray Valley and is an aqueous emulsion of a polyacrylatepolymer which contains 24 wt. % of polyacrylate polymer, 10 wt. % of aparaffin sulfonate surfactant and the balance being water.

The propellant gas mixture can be any conventionally employed propellantgas but a preferred mixture is isobutane and propane in a weight ratioof about 6:1 to 1:1.

The ether solvents used in the instant compositions are glycol etherssuch as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl cellosolve), diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), triethylene glycol monobutylether, mono, di, tri propylene glycol monobutyl ether, tetraethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether,propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monohexyl ether,diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, propylene glycol tertiary butylether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethylether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, ethylene glycol monopentylether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethylether, diethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monopentylether, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol monoethylether, triethylene glycol monopropyl ether, triethylene glycolmonopentyl ether, triethylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di,tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono, di tripropylene glycolmonopropyl ether, mono, di, tripropylene glycol monopentyl ether, mono,di, tripropylene glycol monohexyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycolmono methyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monoethyl ether, mono,di, tributylene glycol monopropyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycolmonobutyl ether, mono, di, tributylene glycol monopentyl ether and mono,di, tributylene glycol monohexyl ether, ethylene glycol monoacetate anddipropylene glycol propionate.

The anionic sulfonate surfactants which may be used in the compositionsof this invention are water soluble and include the sodium, potassium,ammonium and ethanolammonium salts of linear C₈ -C₁₆ alkyl benzenesulfonates; C₁₀ -C₂₀ paraffin sulfonates, alpha olefin sulfonatescontaining about 10-24 carbon atoms and C₈ -C₁₈ alkyl sulfates andmixtures thereof. The preferred anionic sulfonate surfactants are aparaffin sulfonate or alkyl benzene sulfonate.

The paraffin sulfonates may be monosulfonates or di-sulfonates andusually are mixtures thereof, obtained by sulfonating paraffins of 10 to20 carbon atoms. Preferred paraffin sulfonates are those of C₁₂₋₁₈carbon atoms chains, and more preferably they are of C₁₄₋₁₇ chains.Paraffin sulfonates that have the sulfonate group(s) distributed alongthe paraffin chain are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,503,280; 2,507,088;3,260,744; and 3,372,188; and also in German Patent 735,096. Suchcompounds may be made to specifications and desirably the content ofparaffin sulfonates outside the C₁₄₋₁₇ range will be minor and will beminimized, as will be any contents of di- or poly-sulfonates.

Examples of suitable other sulfonated anionic detergents are the wellknown higher alkyl mononuclear aromatic sulfonates, such as the higheralkylbenzene sulfonates containing 9 to 18 or preferably 9 to 16 carbonatoms in the higher alkyl group in a straight or branched chain, orC₈₋₁₅ alkyl toluene sulfonates. A preferred alkylbenzene sulfonate is alinear alkylbenzene sulfonate having a higher content of 3-phenyl (orhigher) isomers and a correspondingly lower content (well below 50%) of2-phenyl (or lower) isomers, such as those sulfonates wherein thebenzene ring is attached mostly at the 3 or higher (for example 4, 5, 6or 7) position of the alkyl group and the content of the isomers inwhich the benzene ring is attached in the 2 or 1 position iscorrespondingly low. Preferred materials are set forth in U.S. Pat. No.3,320,174, especially those in which the alkyls are of 10 to 13 carbonatoms.

The C₈₋₁₈ ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactants have the structure##STR1## wherein n is about 1 to about 22 more preferably 1 to 3 and Ris an alkyl group having about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms, morepreferably 12 to 15 and natural cuts, for example, C₁₂₋₁₄ or C₁₂₋₁₆ andM is an ammonium cation or a metal cation, most preferably sodium. Theethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate is present in the composition at aconcentration of about 8 to about 20 wt. %, more preferably about 10 to18 wt. %.

The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate may be made by sulfating thecondensation product of ethylene oxide and C₈₋₁₀ alkanol, andneutralizing the resultant product. The ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfatesdiffer from one another in the number of carbon atoms in the alcoholsand in the number of moles of ethylene oxide reacted with one mole ofsuch alcohol. Preferred ethoxylated alkyl ether polyethenoxy sulfatescontain 12 to 15 carbon atoms in the alcohols and in the alkyl groupsthereof.

Ethoxylated C₈₋₁₈ alkylphenyl ether sulfates containing from 1 to 6moles of ethylene oxide in the molecule are also suitable for use in theinvention compositions. These detergents can be prepared by reacting analkyl phenol with 1 to 6 moles of ethylene oxide and sulfating andneutralizing the resultant ethoxylated alkylphenol. The concentration ofthe ethoxylated alkyl ether sulfate surfactant is about 8 to about 20wt. %. Other surfactants which can be used are disodium cocfatty ethanolamido sulfosuccinates and sarcosinates.

The instant composition can also contain a zwitterionic surfactantand/or an amine oxide surfactant at a concentration of 0 to 5 wt. %,more preferably 0.5 to 2.0 wt. %.

The zwitterionic surfactants are water soluble betaine having thegeneral formula: ##STR2## wherein X⁻ is selected from the groupconsisting of SO₃ ⁻ and CO₂ ⁻ and R₁ is an alkyl group having 10 toabout 20 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 16 carbon atoms, or the amidoradical: ##STR3## wherein R₅ is an alkyl group having about 9 to 19carbon atoms and a is the integer 1 to 4; R₂ and R₃ are each alkylgroups having 1 to 3 carbons and preferably 1 carbon; R₄ is an alkyleneor hydroxyalkylene group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and,optionally, one hydroxyl group. Typical alkyldimethyl betaines includedecyl dimethyl betaine or 2-(N-decyl-N, N-dimethyl-ammonia) acetate,coco dimethyl betaine or 2-(N-coco N, N-dimethylammonia) acetate,myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethylbetaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl betaine, etc. Theamidobetaines similarly include cocoamidoethylbetaine, cocoamidopropylbetaine and the like. Preferred betaines are coco (C₈ -C₁₈) amidopropyldimethyl betaine and lauryl dimethyl betaine.

The amine oxides are semi-polar nonionic surfactants which comprisecompounds and mixtures of compounds having the formula: ##STR4## whereinR₆ is an alkyl, 2-hydroxyalkyl, 3-hydroxyalkyl, or3-alkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl radical in which the alkyl and alkoxy,respectively, contain from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R₇ and R₈ are eachmethyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, or3-hydroxypropyl, and n is from 0 to 10. Particularly preferred are amineoxides of the formula: ##STR5## wherein R₉ is a C₁₂₋₁₆ alkyl group oramido radical: ##STR6## wherein R₁₂ is an alkyl group having about 9 to19 carbon atoms and a is an integer 1 to 4 and R₁₀ and R₁₁ are methyl orethyl. The above ethylene oxide condensates, amides, and amine oxidesare more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,824 which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Nonionic surfactants or lauryl myristyl monoethanolamide can be used ata concentration of 0 to 5 wt. %, more preferably 0.5 to 2 wt. % in theinstant compositions.

The hydrotropes useful in the instant invention are sodium xylenesulfonate or sodium cumene sulfonate.

The acaricidal agents which are useful in the instant invention areselected from the group consisting of benzaldehyde, benzophenone, methylsalicylate, citral lemarome, acetophenone, citral dimethyl acetal,benzyl acetate, benzyl propionate, phenyl ethyl acetate, phenyl ethylbenzoate, carvone, aubepine, litsea oil, geranyl acetate, benzylisoeugenone, isobutyl benzoate, terpinolene, rosemary oil, amylsalicylate, phenyl ethyl alcohol, eucalyptus globulus, decyl aldehyde,benzyl acetone, linalool, terpineol, citronella, D-phenothrin andpiperonyl butoxide and mixtures thereof.

The anticorrision agents are selected from the group consisting ofsodium nitrate, sodium silicate, sodium sarcosinate, sodiumsulfosuccinate, sodium phosphate and sodium borate.

The following examples illustrate foam cleaning compositions of thedescribed invention. Unless otherwise specified, all percentages are byweight. The exemplified compositions are illustrative only and do notlimit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, theproportions in the examples and elsewhere in the specification are byweight.

EXAMPLE 1

The following compositions in wt. % were prepared at 25° C. by simplemixing:

    __________________________________________________________________________                     A   B   C   D   E  F  G                                      __________________________________________________________________________    Polyacrylate polymer Ubatol VTR 455                                                            3.84                                                                              3.84                                                                              3.84                                                                              3.84                                                                              3.84                                                                             3.84                                                                             3.84                                   Sodium C.sub.13 -C.sub.17 paraffin sulfonate                                                   1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6                                                                              1.6                                                                              1.6                                    Pentasodium triphosphate                                                                       2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2                                                                              2.2                                                                              2.2                                    Perfume          0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3                                                                              0.3                                                                              0.3                                    Sodium silicate  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2                                                                              0.2                                                                              0.2                                    Lauryl myristyl monoethanol amide                                                              0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5                                                                              0.5                                                                              0.5                                    Sodium xylene sulfonate                                                                        0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3                                                                              0.3                                                                              0.3                                    Water            bal bal bal bal bal                                                                              bal                                                                              bal                                    Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether                                                              1   1   1   2   1  1  0                                      Phenothrin                   0.15                                             Piperonyl butoxide           0.75                                             Benzyl alcohol       2   1                                                    Benzyl salicylate                                                                              1               0.5                                          Isobutane        4.63                                                                              4.63                                                                              4.63                                                                              4.63                                                                              4.63                                                                             4.63                                                                             4.63                                   Propane          0.87                                                                              0.87                                                                              0.87                                                                              0.87                                                                              0.87                                                                             0.87                                                                             0.87                                   Acaricidal tests: % dead dust mites                                           30 min contact time - neat product                                                             100 100 100 100 0  0  0                                      3 h after carpet treatment                                                                     89.9                                                                              49  34  81                                               24 h after carpet treatment                                                                    91  55  22  99                                               96 h after carpet treatment                                                                    92  98  65  100                                              __________________________________________________________________________

The acaricidal test for mites is done, first, in liquid medium in 24wells plastic plates. About 30 living mites are placed in the well withthe nourishing culture medium and then covered with either water(background values) or the neat foam for carpet (or any other liquidproduct to be tested) in water and left in contact for 30 minutes. Theremaining living mites are counted by observation under the microscopeafter the envisaged contact time. Contact times with mites can be 5minutes up to 3 hours. When the foam for carpet has been found anacaricidal activity, the test is repeated on carpet pieces. Carpetpieces are infested with a known amount (80-100) of dust mites and letto settle for 1 hour. Carpet pieces are then treated with the acaricidalfoam and the remaining living mites are counted by visual observationafter 3 hours, 24 hours and 96 hours. The examination can be extended upto 7 days after the treatment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foam composition comprising approximately byweight:(a) 0.5% to 10% of a polyacrylate polymer; (b) 2% to 10% of ahydrocarbon propellant; (c) 0.5% to 5% of pentasodium triphosphate; (d)0.5% to 3% of an ether solvent; (e) 0.1% to 5% of at least oneacaricidal agent, wherein the acaricidal agent is selected from thegroup consisting of benzaldehyde, benzophenone, acetophenone, citraldimethyl acetal, carvone, litsea cubeba oil, terpinolene, rosemary oil,phenyl ethyl alcohol, eucalyptus globulus, decyl aldehyde,benzylacetone, linalool, terpineol, citronella, D-phenothrin andpiperonyl butoxide and mixtures thereof; (f) 0.1% to 5% of a surfactant;(g) 0.1% to 3% of a hydrotrope; (h) 0.1% to 1% of a perfume; (i) 0.01%to 5% of an anticorrosion agent selected from the group consisting ofsodium nitrate, sodium silicate, sodium sarcosinate, sodiumsulfosuccinate and sodium borate; and (j) the balance being water,wherein the composition does not contain benzyl benzoate.
 2. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein said surfactant is an anionicsurfactant.
 3. The composition according to claim 2 further including azwitterionic surfactant.
 4. The composition according to claim 2 furtherincluding a nonionic surfactant.
 5. The composition according to claim1, wherein said hydrocarbon propellant is a mixture of propane andisobutane.